Linnea Kavanaugh
Washington,PA
Summary
I grew up in Southern Arkansas in the 80s and 90s and had piano lessons and played all my life until leaving for College in 1994.
Life took it's hold and I didn't play for many years. I am now married with 5 children.
I the fall of 2022 after sitting in the church at First Lutheran in Washington for many months without a pianist or organist I heard the Lord call me up through the silence.
Without hesitation the very next week a free piano was given to me by coincidence. A number of against all odds happenings occured after that to pave the way for me to play for the church and bring the music back to his house until the church found a permanent organist.
After First Lutheran found an organist I realized what HE had called me back to do, which was not to waste the talent HE gave me in life and use it to serve his churches going forward during a time in history whwre so many are needed and fading away. There was something inside me HE had planted at that point that wouldn't let me just sit back down in the pew again, so I went to play for the First Presbyterian Church of Monongahela.
I now have started on the organ learning that as well realizing HE has led me all the way to it in his own path he has paved for me to do what HE needs.
Like in the story of David and Goliath, I feel I have been an unlikely candidate called up to for something difficult, but necessary. Just like the nobody shepard, I am just a housewife and a mother. But, what I have accomplished was incredible after 26 years of not playing the piano, I stepped right up and started choral accompianment to a congregation and a choir and have achieved it successfully with the Lord's help.
Work History
Church Pianist
First Presbyterian Church of Monongahela
609 Chess St. Monongahela, PA 15063
10 2023 - Current
Every Sunday church services start at 10:30 am. I typically arrive early and practice music played that day with the choir before service starts. At this church I play prelude and postlude music on the piano. I play the middle hymn for the day for the congregation to sing. I also play the doxology to start that the congregation sings, a parting blessing for the choir to sing at the end of service. Certain Sundays for communion and during offering I play special music for that as well. I attend choir rehersals and play special pieces for the choir to sing.
On special sevices extra during the christmas and lenten season I play the entire sevice. All hymns and in between music and special music.
At this church I am currently using time while not playing for the service to practice the organ and accomplish being able to play that instrument as well. At this point I am able to rudementarily play it, just not as well as the piano.
Church Pianist
First Lutheran Church
92 W. Walnut St. Washington, PA
01 2023 - 10 2023
At this church I played all the music for the services including prelude and postlude music, special hymns for the choir to sing, special music for communion and offerings, all three hymns for the day, and all in between music.
I played all special services during lenten season and other times.
All music I played at this church was on piano as well.
Pianist
United States Postal Service
Mena, Arkansas
12 1990 - 12 1991
For two Christmases my mother who was a postmaster for the US postal service used to be resposible for throwing Christmas parties for the district she was in because it was a volunteer action from the NAPUS union, National Association of Postmasters of the United States.
I played Chriatmas music for the party while people ate dinner and my mother and I also did special music in which she sang certain Christmas songs while I accompanied her on the piano.
Miss DHS Pageant
Dequeen High School
Dequeen, Ar
04 1991 - 05 1991
In high school I participated in my high school's beauty pageant and my talent was that I played the song "The Wind Beneath my Wings" by Bette Midler and I accompanied myself on the piano singing it.
Education
High School Diploma -
05.1994
Skills
I am also a skilled seamstress and quilter and have made many clothes and quilts for personal use and for people in the church I used to make the quilt for the annual quilt raffle every year for First Lutheran Church in Washington, PA
I'm also an excellent cook and have been doing do for my family and for big parties and occasions as well
Timeline
Church Pianist - First Presbyterian Church of Monongahela
10 2023 - Current
Church Pianist - First Lutheran Church
01 2023 - 10 2023
Pianist - United States Postal Service
12 1990 - 12 1991
Miss DHS Pageant - Dequeen High School
04 1991 - 05 1991
Dequeen High School - High School Diploma,